Cherry Sylvia

Columnar fruit trees have long been popular with farmers, but over time, private gardens, especially summer cottages with limited sizes, began to "settle down". The universal cherry Sylvia belongs to one of these varieties. Its fruits are highly marketable and transportable. They are used for fresh consumption, for deep freezing, cooking juices, preserves, marmalades and jams. The berry is used in confectionery.

The originators of the variety are Canadian breeders K. Lapins, D. Jefferson and D. Lane. Lambert Compact and Van were used as parent varieties. The variety became widespread in Canada, then mastered the entire continent, after which it began its triumphant "march" across Eurasia.

Weak (up to 2.5 m) tree has a compact pyramidal crown with a complete absence of lateral and skeletal shoots. Sweet cherry blossoms with medium-sized pink flowers, covering the straight trunk in a continuous mass. The ovaries are formed on small fruit branches, the maximum length of which does not exceed 10 cm.

Advantages of the variety:

• compactness;

• early maturity;

• decorativeness;

• large-fruited;

• unpretentiousness;

• frost and drought resistance;

• the ability of flowers to withstand nighttime cold snaps up to -2ºC.

Disadvantages:

• exactingness to the place of cultivation;

• intolerance to excessive moisture and prolonged drought.

The length of the harvest and marketing period makes it a leader in the selection of varieties for commercial cultivation.

Large (8.5-10 g) rounded dark red berries are covered with a strong glossy skin and are attached to a long sturdy stalk. Storability in special conditions up to three weeks, sometimes more. The berry is not prone to cracking and retains an attractive appearance throughout the entire shelf life. That is why it is in demand in retail outlets.

The dense and juicy dark red pulp has a candy-sweet taste, the aroma is barely perceptible, and there are barely noticeable streaks in the pulp.

Early maturity of cherries - fruiting occurs in the second or third year after planting. The flowering of the tree occurs in May, more precise dates depend on the climatic characteristics of the place of cultivation. The crop is harvested in the second and third decade of June.

The variety belongs to high-yielding - on average, up to 15 kg are harvested from one tree. Champion results are known when up to 50 kg are removed from the plant from mature trees.If we take into account the compactness of the crop and the possibility of a compacted planting, then even the average figures are very impressive. Unfortunately, the ability to produce such high yields significantly shortens the life span of Sylvia. Its average duration is 15 years.

The plant is adapted for growing in Ukraine, Belarus, southern regions of Russia. Cultivation in the middle lane requires the organization of a shelter for the winter.

Sylvia belongs to self-fertile varieties, but cross-pollination qualitatively increases yields. For these purposes, you can use the varieties Cordia, Helena and Sam.

Sweet cherries need good lighting and protection from northerly winds, so the best place for cultivation would be the southern exposure of the slope or planting on the sunny side under the protection of walls and fences. The variety prefers well-drained soils, does not tolerate being near groundwater or wetlands in lowlands at all. The proximity of the occurrence of underground water layers should not be less than 2.5 m from the earth's surface. When preparing the planting holes, the distance between the roots of 1-1.5 meters should be observed. In industrial cultivation, a distance between rows of 3 meters is maintained.

The beauty of columnar varieties is that the grower is relieved of the need for annual pruning.

As a planting material, you should opt for a two-year-old seedling with a well-developed healthy root system and the presence of living buds on the apical part. If several seedlings are purchased, then ideally they should all be of the same age. In the southern regions, planting is possible in spring and autumn, in the more northern regions, immature young growth is planted in the spring. This will allow the plant to grow stronger during the summer season, adapt to new agronomic conditions and build up a good root system.

The optimal size of the planting pit is 60x60x70 cm. An obligatory drainage layer of gravel, pebbles, crushed stone, broken brick is poured onto the bottom, and a support is installed. The excavated land is enriched with organic matter, superphosphate, complex specialized mineral fertilizers, and wood ash. Since the plant does not develop well in acidic soils, dolomite flour is added if high acidity is observed. Part of the prepared soil is poured into the hole, the seedling is lowered on top, the roots are carefully straightened and covered with the remaining earth, compacting and shedding well the near-trunk circle. The next day, the moistened soil should be loosened or covered with a layer of peat mulch.

Further care consists in traditional weeding, watering, feeding. Young plants in the first year are watered weekly if the weather is dry. During the rainy season, there will be enough natural precipitation. An adult plant is irrigated much less frequently, about once a month, but much depends on climatic characteristics. Sometimes the intensity of watering is increased.

Weeding helps keep the crop out of competition for nutrients. They begin to feed the cherries from the second - third year, if the planting pit has been properly filled. In the spring, the plant may need nitrogen fertilization. During flowering and ovary formation, Sylvia needs potassium-phosphorus preparations. In autumn, the trunks are covered with a thick layer of humus or aged compost.

Strong immunity provided the variety with natural protection against viral, fungal diseases and pests. As an additional measure to keep the plant healthy, it is recommended to whitewash the lower part of the trunks.

Sylvia is characterized by high resistance to drought and frost.